In Fairfax County, Virginia, accidents between bicycles and cars are on the rise. In 2012, bicyclists were involved in 106 accidents, a 25% increase from the year before. This is especially dangerous for bicyclists due to the fact that they have so little protection. In urban areas, there is more awareness for bikers but as motorists get further away from the city, incidents increase. As a Fairfax County traffic violations attorney, I urge motorists and bicyclists alike to be careful and help bring this number down.
Bicycle Laws Explained by a Fairfax Traffic Violations Attorney
Bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists on the roads of Virginia. They must obey all traffic signs, traffic signals, lights, and other markings. One exception is that a vehicle may proceed through a solid red light if it follows these five rules:
- Comes to a complete stop for two minutes or two full traffic cycles
- Exercises duty of care
- Treats the signal as a stop sign
- Makes sure it is safe to proceed
- Yields to oncoming cars or other vehicles
Because they are subject to the same traffic laws as cars, bicyclists may need a Fairfax County traffic violations attorney for certain infractions, including improper lane change, failure to signal, biking while intoxicated, failure to wear a helmet (a requirement in Fairfax County), failure to ride at night without a headlamp or rear reflector, or other crimes. These rules are in place to ensure the safety of the rider.
Fairfax County traffic violations attorneys are here to help all people on the roads, whether they are motorists or bicyclists. No matter what type of transportation you may be using, a violation can result in fines and points on your license which can result in higher insurance premiums or a suspended or revoked driver's license. In order to prevent this, contact.